Foreclosures are hitting families hard across the country as evidenced by the news and walks through local neighborhoods. A lesser known causalty of the foreclosure crisis are renters whose homes are in foreclosure.   

 

CMC in collaboration with Cleveland Tenants Organization (CTO), recently began a pilot project working with this vulnerable group. First, tenants are informed by CTO that their dwelling is in foreclosure and are referred to Cleveland Mediation Center for assistance.  The mediation advocate verifies the foreclosure and the tenant's eligibility.  For eligible tenants, the mediation advocate contacts the bank to negotiate the terms of the tenancy after the foreclosure or determines a mutually agreeable move-out date (cash for keys) if tenancy is not possible.  If the tenant is moving out, the mediation advocate helps the tenant find affordable housing and helps the tenant through the process of signing the lease and scheduling a move-in day.  The mediation advocate also sends the first month's rent and security deposit to the new property owner.

This past summer, CMC worked with a group of tenants in this very situation.  Four single mothers and their ten children became suddenly homeless when the property they rented was foreclosed on.  Although all four families were current on their rent, the owner had defaulted on the mortgage and failed to pay the utilities.  Recent storms had flooded the basements and the home had no water or electricity. 

 

In this case, CMC was asked to help the four families, and we were able to quickly find them housing.  Every day, we are seeing the real social costs and casualties of the foreclosure crisis, and are finding ways to keep families together, safe and sheltered. 

CMC hopes to continue this valuable program through extending the grant into 2009 and further helping tenants caught in this crisis.

During the hustle and bustle of the holidays there are potential conflicts everywhere: in the parking lot of the local mall, with the harried clerk at the store, and with your brother-in-law on the opposite side of the political fence.  One way to avoid these conflicts is to mentally prepare yourself for the situation before it happens.  

 

1. If you know there is going to be a lot of traffic because of holiday shoppers, prepare yourself for the inevidability and leave extra travel time. 

2. If every year you get into a big debate with your brother-in-law over the politics, remind yourself of this ahead of time so you aren't drawn into the annual battle over ideologies. 

3. When you are going shopping remind yourself that the store clerks have extra stressors this time of year and build in time for the longer lines.  

4. If you crowded Christmas parties give you the jitters, prepare ahead and decide to leave after 45 minutes and then follow it up with something you'd rather be doing.

 

Preparing yourself for potential conflict helps you have a calmer reaction when conflict does arise.  This makes for a more peaceful holiday season, which is something that can be helpful to everyone. 

There are a few ways to get involved at CMC, including becoming a volunteer mediator and volunteering here in the office. Once you've taken CMC's basic mediation training, you can sign-up to become a volunteer mediator.  This not only gives back to the community through volunteering but also builds mediation skills since all mediators are trained by CMC staff.  This process includes observation, co-mediation, and conversations about how the mediation process is going.